Getting Started with FireWire

A FireWire port on the computer.

So the holidays came and you gained some new gadgets. Hopefully one was a digital camcorder. You might wonder what makes the new digital camcorders so special.

In a word, FireWire. That is Apple's trademarked name for a technology more commonly known as IEEE 1394. I don't know about you but I think I find the term FireWire a little friendlier. If you work with a non-Apple system, your IEEE 1394 may also have a different name. It might be known as i.Link or Lynx. For the sake of simplicity, even if not entirely accurate, I'll stick to the term FireWire.

A FireWire port on the side of a Canon Optura pi.

So what is special about FireWire? FireWire allows your computer to move a lot of data in and out of another device really fast. That is where it becomes such a powerful thing for digital video. When your camcorder records a scene, it converts a huge amount of visual and audible information into a digital format that a computer can understand. But now that the data is stored away in your camcorder, you have to find a way to get all that information into your computer. FireWire provides the solution. A FireWire cable between your computer and camcorder to move a ton of digital video data very quickly.

Plugging In

A 6-4 pin FireWire cable with the 6-pin on the left and the 4-pin on the right.

With a FireWire equipped iMac (or any other IEEE 1394 capable computer), you will find a funny shaped port on the side of the machine. I've pictured it to the right so you know what to look for. That is known as a 6-pin FireWire port. Why is that important? Take a look at the side of your digital camcorder. You probably are not going to find a 6-pin FireWire port on it.

On your digital camcorder, you will likely find a 4-pin FireWire port. I've pictured a port on a Canon Optura pi so you can see the difference. So to hook up your camera to your camcorder, you will need a 6-pin to 4-pin FireWire (IEEE 1394) cable. These are not cheap, so your computer may not have come with one. If you are shopping for such a beast from your online camera warehouse, you might do a search on "1394" if you cannot find it listed under "FireWire." Look at the ends to make sure you are getting a 6 to 4 pin cable as pictured above.